TIP FORWARDSis a mnemonic device for close reading, especially of poetry.
Start by "Tipping" the piece:
What is the Title-- what does the title suggest to you about where this piece is going? What particular connotations are carried in the words of the title?
What Ideas and Images strike you especially strongly as you read the poem? Are they positive or negative? Gentle or harsh? What do they
seem to connect to? Do they seem related, for example, to animals or food or games?
What is the Point you think the poet is trying to make here?
Now go into more detail as you read closely to see how the writer is using various aspects of language to achieve his or her purpose.:
look at Form-- do you recognize a specific form, eg. sonnet or villanelle here? Is there a reason why the writer might have chosen this form? Order of words does the writer place words in a specific, perhaps unusual, sequence? How does the order of words seems to affect the
ideas that are emphasized. How does the writer's use of white space affect the way you read the piece? Repetition do you notice certain ideas, images, elements, sounds being repeated? (perhaps it is a specific poetic form, after all). How does
the repetition work in the piece? What does it do? Word choice What do you notice about the specific words the writer has chosen. Especially look at the connotative value of the words. Also
consider the sounds the words make. Attitude and Tone What feeling is conveyed by the speaker about the subject? Are there any shifts in this attitude? Be on the lookout for
irony! Rhyme and Rhythm Does the writer use rhyme and/or rhythmic elements? How are they used? Devices Look for any additional devices such as Personification, Onomatopoeia, Simile, Metaphor, Symbolism, etc. Sound What additional sound enhancement has the writer used? For example, do you notice assonance, consonance, enjambment,
alliteration, caesura, etc.
Start by "Tipping" the piece:
What is the Title-- what does the title suggest to you about where this piece is going? What particular connotations are carried in the words of the title?
What Ideas and Images strike you especially strongly as you read the poem? Are they positive or negative? Gentle or harsh? What do they
seem to connect to? Do they seem related, for example, to animals or food or games?
What is the Point you think the poet is trying to make here?
Now go into more detail as you read closely to see how the writer is using various aspects of language to achieve his or her purpose.:
look at
Form-- do you recognize a specific form, eg. sonnet or villanelle here? Is there a reason why the writer might have chosen this form?
Order of words does the writer place words in a specific, perhaps unusual, sequence? How does the order of words seems to affect the
ideas that are emphasized. How does the writer's use of white space affect the way you read the piece?
Repetition do you notice certain ideas, images, elements, sounds being repeated? (perhaps it is a specific poetic form, after all). How does
the repetition work in the piece? What does it do?
Word choice What do you notice about the specific words the writer has chosen. Especially look at the connotative value of the words. Also
consider the sounds the words make.
Attitude and Tone What feeling is conveyed by the speaker about the subject? Are there any shifts in this attitude? Be on the lookout for
irony!
Rhyme and Rhythm Does the writer use rhyme and/or rhythmic elements? How are they used?
Devices Look for any additional devices such as Personification, Onomatopoeia, Simile, Metaphor, Symbolism, etc.
Sound What additional sound enhancement has the writer used? For example, do you notice assonance, consonance, enjambment,
alliteration, caesura, etc.